It is summertime and kids need to be engaged and entertained, but where do you take them? So in every monthly issue this summer, we will feature a local hotspot for children. This month it is the Children’s Museum in Saint Paul which has undergone a major renovation and will soon reopen to the public.
Everything is new at the Minnesota Children’s Museum where families have been going to play for more than 35 years.
The museum, located in downtown St Paul, will re-open in June with 10 new exhibits. It is a place for children to have fun and learn at the same time.
Kids can slide down a giant slide and climb two tall towers in an experience called The Scramble. There also is a laser maze, a studio with real tools, and a pretend town where children can put on costumes to be a firefighter or a postal worker.
For families with babies and toddlers, a new exhibit called Sprouts gives young children a place to safely crawl, climb and play with water. And the museum has created two new outdoor places to play.
“We like to say this is an all new museum,” said Dianne Krizan, president of Minnesota Children’s Museum. “It’s a place where families can have a great time and see their children grow and learn right before their eyes.”
The new exhibits include:
The Scramble
A four-story vertical adventure with climbing towers, spiral slide and netted catwalk suspended more than 40 feet high
Forces at Play
Air-powered ball launchers and a wacky car wash
Super Awesome Adventures
Laser maze, carpet skates, balance boards and green-screen climbing wall
Backyard
Quirky outdoor space for exploring the natural world
Imaginopolis
A fantastical play space where children shape and share their own stories
Creativity Jam
Lively and bright collaborative space with face-painting, loose parts and surprising materials
Sprouts
Joyful landscape of discovery for babies and toddlers
Our World
Kids play various roles in a vibrant Minnesota city with a fire station, hardware store, post office, food stand and more
The Studio
Visitors tinker, make and create with real tools and authentic materials
Tip Top Terrace
Outdoor space on the roof to see, hear and talk about the city
In addition to the new exhibits, the museum added several features that make visiting the museum more convenient and comfortable. There is a new entrance on the skyway level, another elevator, more seating and more bathrooms.
The museum is close to the Afro Deli in Saint Paul which makes it a good option for Eid celebrations.
Renovating the museum cost $30 million, with funding from the State of Minnesota, the City of Saint Paul and more than 350 corporations, foundations and individuals. Construction began in December 2015. The museum closed in December 2016 to complete the project. The grand opening is June 7.
The museum is open every day during the summer from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For low-income families, the museums provides free All Play memberships. Families with qualifying incomes may learn more and apply online. Applications are available in Somali.
For more information visit the Minnesota Children’s Museum Website.